Sofia, 8 November 1996 (RFE/RL) -- Independent deputies in Bulgaria's Parliament say they intend to initiate a vote of no-confidence in the Socialist government of Prime Minister Zhan Videnov. Our Sofia correspondent reports the independent deputies are expected to seek the motion after a Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) meeting scheduled Monday to determine Videnov's fate.

Monday's BSP meeting is expected to decide if Videnov should stay on as Prime Minister and as a party leader. Nineteen members of the BSP have called for Videnov to step down from both posts.

The main opposition party, the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), yesterday said it would press for early parliamentary elections, but would not pursue a no-confidence motion before Petar Stoyanov is sworn in in January. Opposition candidate Stoyanov won almost 60 percent of the vote to defeat the BSP candidate in Sunday's presidential runoff.